Wednesday, August 27, 2008

A Heroine Passes

The entire LGBT community, and PFLAG family, are mourning the loss of Del Martin (pictured, with her wife Phyllis Lyon), who passed away today at the age of 87.

Del and Phyllis lifted the hearts of Americans, again and again, as they led the fight for marriage equality in California and the nation. But, in fact, their heroism began long before - in 1955 - when they, along with six other pioneering women, founded the Daughters of Bilitis in San Francisco. Their organization was the first in the country to advocate for the civil rights and full equality of lesbians.

Earlier this year, Del and Phyllis made history once more, as one of the couples who challenged California's ban on marriage equality and won an historic victory for same-sex couples. They were the first couple to wed in San Francisco, and for many LGBT Americans and their families, they were truly the "first couple" of the movement for marriage.

A public memorial will be planned in the next few weeks, and in lieu of flowers, a gift can be made to honor Del's life, and her fighting spirit, to the National Center for Lesbian Rights' 'No On 8' PAC. Contributions will be used to fight attempts to roll back the historic victory that Del, and Phyllis, gave us all.